NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) — A North Dakota state lawmaker from Minot recently wrote a bill that would require colleges and public schools in North Dakota to hang a copy of the 10 Commandments in classrooms. Yesterday, supporters and opponents testified about the bill. In 2021, former Governor Doug Burgum signed a law protecting teachers from being sued if they decide to hang the 10 Commandments up in their classrooms. Now, lawmakers want to take a step forward in requiring them to be in every classroom. But what are the 10 Commandments? The 10 commandments are principles that originated over 3,000 years ago after Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, where they were enslaved. They are said to have been written by God on two tablets of stone and given to Moses on Mount Sinai, where the Israelites based themselves after crossing the Red Sea. Because of this, Mount Sinai is regarded by some as the birthplace of Torah Judaism, the Torah being the Hebrew bible. Many people believe that God actually gave the Jewish people 613 commandments, and the 10 we often refer to are the first ones on the list. Here are the 10 Commandments: 1. You shall have no other gods before Me. This commandment means that there should be no gods ahead of the one who gave Moses the commandments. Some people worship things other than God, and this commandment also says that none of those things should come ahead of God. 2. You shall make no idols. This commandment says that God should be worshipped in spirit and truth, rather than with objects or false deities made in his name. 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. This commandment says to worship God and not speak ill of him. It can be interpreted differently depending on your point of view, however. Some see it as simple as not using God's name as a swear word, but others see it more as a reflection of your behavior. If you claim to be a Jew or Christian and pray to God, for example, you must act in accordance with the beliefs of your religion. 4. Keep the Sabbath day holy. The Sabbath day refers to a day of rest and worship that believers must observe. According to scripture, it took God six days to make the heavens and the Earth, and he abstained from work and rested on the seventh day. Many Jews practice this from sunset every Friday to sunset every Saturday. However, for different religions, the day of rest is different. North Dakota lawmaker wants 10 Commandments back in schools 5. Honor your father and your mother. This commandment reminds people to obey, love, and respect their parents. 6. You shall not murder. This commandment simply means not to take anyone else's life, for vengeance or any other reason. 7. You shall not commit adultery. This commandment basically refers to your marriage vows and how you should stay true to them. It says to be honest with and honor the commitment to your spouse. 8. You shall not steal. This commandment says that you should not take the possessions of another person. 9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. This commandment forbids bribery, slander, libel, and anything else to do with lying. It serves to remind people to be honest. 10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house, wife, or property. This commandment reminds people to be grateful for what they have, and not envy someone else's life or anything they have. The debate people have regarding whether the commandments should be posted in classrooms is whether the act is religious in nature. Those against the bill argue that the 10 Commandments impose religious beliefs on students, and that the act of placing them in classrooms violates the Establishment Clause of the first amendment, which prevents the government from "establishing" a religion. Those for the bill say that they promote values universal to all religions without offending any, and that the 10 Commandments is a good historical document to base your morals off of. The first four commandments mention God and refer to worship, but the last six refer to acts that are widely considered to be morally wrong. This distinction will probably continue to be at the center of the debate, as lawmakers decide what to do with the bill. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW